Scuba tank mounting brackets

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises two aluminum brackets for the purpose of better assisting the SCUBA diver with mounting the SCUBA tank and accessories to the BCD (bouyancy compensating device) for SCUBA diving. The BCD is a harness the diver wears to carry the SCUBA tank and accessories that provides proper bouyancy in the water. One bracket is attached to the SCUBA tank. The second bracket is attached to the BCD. They are then interconnected by means of the triangle shaped male and female Dovetail design feature and locked in place with Detent pins. The two brackets stay attached individually to their respective articles, with exception for periods of maintenance. The invention reduces the divers&#39; pre dive set up time and levels of stress ensuring a more secure and balanced dive

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scuba tanks are typically mounted to a BCD by means of two mountingstraps that are attached to the BCD. This requires picking up the BCDand slipping the straps attached to the BCD over the top of the scubatank. The scuba tank is then positioned to the BCD to correct height.While attempting to secure the BCD in it's correct position, the divetightens one scuba strap to the scuba tank and then the other. Ifadditional diving devices are need to be attached to the scuba tankbands such as a diving light or pony tank bracket the diver must alsodeal with this while keeping the BCD in its proper position until thescuba tank is securely attached to the BCD. Once the BCD and tank aresecured together the diver attaches the regulators to the scuba tank anddiving weights to the BCD (if the BCD is weight integrated). After thisthe diver must strap the BCD vest on, stand in a hunched verticalposition, and tighten the BCD securely for diving. Sometimes it isneedful for the diver to readjust the BCD and scuba tank straps once inthe water for a more secure fit.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a mounting plate for a BCD (buoyancycompensating device) and for a single scuba diving tank for the purposeof a quicker mounting of the scuba tank to the BCD. This will allow thediver to put on the BCD more securely with much less effort, moresecurely attach and detach the scuba tank to the BCD with less effort,and more quickly exchange scuba tanks for the next dive. When notdiving, the diver would leave the mounting plates attached to theirrespective items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1. FIG. 1 illustrates from a top view the two plates attached togetherbut by means of the “dove tail” mail extension and female slot and thesecuring Detent pin.

2. FIG. 1 a illustrates the plate that mounts to the scuba tank.

3. FIG. 1 b illustrates the plate that mounts to the BCD.

4. FIG. 1 c illustrates the scuba tank.

5. FIG. 1 e illustrates the Detent pin with the standard ring attachedat the insert side of the hole and the other end that shows the ballbearing end of the pin. The spring-loaded ball bearing keeps the pinfrom sliding out.

6. FIG. 2 illustrates from a top view the plate that mounts to the scubatank.

7. FIG. 2 a illustrates a full-face view of the curved side of the platethat mounts to the scuba tank.

8. FIG. 2 b illustrates a full-face view of the plate which attaches tothe scuba tank from showing the “dove tail” side of the plate. The “dovetail” extension slides from the top of the plate which mounts to the BCDin a downward vertical manner.

9. FIG. 2 c illustrates a side view of the plate that attaches to thescuba tank and the plate that mounts to the BCD.

10. FIGS. 2 e & 2 f illustrate the two recessed points at which thescuba tank straps secure the plate to the scuba tank.

11. FIG. 3 illustrates the plate which mounts to the BCD showing theslotted “dove tail” groove that opens at the top extending down themiddle near the bottom where it stops. The plate which attaches to thescuba tank FIG. 2 is attached to this plate by means of the extendedmale “dove tail” FIG. 2 b, which slides down this slot securing the twoplates together FIG. 1 and further secured with the Detent pin fig le.

12. FIGS. 3 b & 3 c show the two counter sunk holes drilled through theplate used to secure the plate to the BCD with the 2 screws, 2 washers,and 2 threaded inserts for the screws to attach the BCD and plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention will allow the scuba diver to more securely and easily puton the BCD prior to attaching the scuba tank to the BCD. This eliminatesapproximately 40 lbs. Of additional weight the diver must lift whileAttempting to stand and secure the BCD with weight, regulators, andscuba tank attached to the BCD. This will eliminate attempting to securethe scuba tank and other needed scuba gear to the BCD in the propertyposition. The scuba tank regulators and air hoses will be more easilyattached and detached to the scuba tank when not attached to the BCD.

1-3. (canceled)
 2. An improved mounting bracket system for SCUBA tanksthat is quicker, easier, more balanced, and secure comprising twoindividual brackets of different design of which said two bracketslonger widths are the vertical plain with the narrow widths being thehorizontal plain that interconnect to each other wherein one of thebracket is called the SCUBA tank bracket and the second is called theBCD (Bouyancy Compensating Device) bracket with the said first brackets'back side having a curved radius the full vertical length of the bracketwith the front side of said first bracket having 3 Dovetail rails (atriangle shaped pattern) being equal in their horizontal widthprotruding out from the face of the front side of said first bracket ina lateral manner from its' vertical center having one rail, that islonger in its' vertical length than the other two rails of the said 3rails, positioned in the middle center of said front side of the firstbracket with its' middle center being of equal distance from the middlecenter of the front side of said front bracket in both verticaldirections with the other two rails being of equal vertical lengths toeach other positioned one each on the opposite ends of the said longerrail with each of the two shorter rails being separated from the ends ofthe said longer rail by a slot that is recessed below the face of thesaid front side of the first bracket across its' horizontal plain fromleading edge to leading edge of the bracket designed for placingfastening agents against to facilitate the interconnecting of the saidtwo brackets they being fixed in place by the design of the outer endsof the two shorter brackets facing the vertical plain leading edges ofthe front side of said first bracket front side with both said shorterbrackets being separated from the said leading edges by an open areahaving a flush surface with no protrusions extending out from thesurface of the front side of said first bracket allowing room for oneDetent pin to be positioned across the horizontal plain of the saidflush surface from leading edge to leading edge of the horizontal sidesof the said front side of the first bracket which will secure the saidtwo brackets together in a fixed position once the 3 Dovetail rails areinterconnected with the female Dovetail slot located on the front sidein the vertical center being open ended at both ends in the horizontalcenter of the front side of the said second bracket by aligning thematching pattern of the Dovetail rail and slot design at either end ofthe said two brackets respectively in a vertical fashion which willpermit the rails of the said SCUBA tank bracket to slide into the femaleDovetail slot of the said BCD bracket to be accomplished until bothbrackets are even with one another at their ends aligning the Detent pinholes located on both sides at both ends of said second bracket so as toallow the Detent pins to be inserted into the Detent pin holes at eitherend from either side of said second bracket through to the opposite sideof said second bracket which will lock the two brackets together in afixed position so they cannot be disconnected until such time as aDetent pin is removed from its' locking position.